Norwalk resident Rick Aurilio applauds Connecticut Governor Dannel P. Malloy’s Friday executive order suspending for 30 days state law that permits only the owner of a propane tank to fill it.

However, since Aurilio is part of the 96 percent of Connecticut propane users who rent their tanks from propane dealers, he would like to see an automatic lifting of the state law if the propane dealer can’t immediately fill an emergency request.

Aurilio, who uses two 120 gallon tanks to run his back up generator as well as heat his home, told CtWatchdog that he contacted his supplier Hocon Gas Inc., in Norwalk, the Friday before Hurricane Sandy struck Connecticut to top off his tanks. Living along the coast of Connecticut he expected to lose electric power, which he did on Tuesday. He was lucky as his power was restored on Friday.

Hocon employees, Aurilio said, promised him several times that he would have a delivery last week, but as of today a delivery has not been made. Hocon officials could not be reached this morning for a response.

“I could understand it if they told me they were running low or were” overwhelmed with demand, Aurilio said in a telephone interview today. Instead of getting a straight answer, he said the company kept promising and then failing to deliver.

He even went to the firm’s Norwalk office, but he said he only received “lip service” and more promises that weren’t kept.

“Right now, people who heat their homes or cook with propane need the flexibility to get their tanks filled – it’s that simple,” said Governor Malloy in announcing the suspension of the propane laws. “With temperatures dropping, we absolutely must provide residents who use propane with a way to meet their fuel needs.”

But the real question is how many propane dealers will actually deliver gas to a non customer. Aurilio said he wasn’t hopeful.

During previous storms CtWatchdog received several complaints from propane customers who said they could not get other firms to fill their tanks.

Many propane dealers like the stranglehold they have on their customers and they don’t want to upset their monopolies.

So who is responcible if the rogue company overfills the other companies tanks??? If you want someone else to fill your tanks, buy the tanks that way anyone can fill,also I would like to know how much gas was your top off request? you can only fll tanks to 80% if you were anywhere north of 65% I would have made you a low priority.
PEOPLE who own their own tanks can have anyone fill them,but you are responsible for all maintenance and upkeep, you cant have your cake and eat it to

Wigs on November 6, 2012 at 8:40 am

Whether you own or rent your tank, if you call for a fill you should get a fill . It shouldn’t be the suppliers choice of who is a priority. Let me guess, when the customer called for a fill it was cheaper than when it was actually delivered. It is a monopoly and the state is not doing anything but lip service appeasement to the consumer